High Forest Memories

Quietly following the others, Nym began to notice the sound of water running and dripping as well as the unpleasant smell of the sewer. She examined the wall as she passed, noticing the slime buildup on the surface. She plugged her nose for a moment, counted to 3, and then breathed deeply. Prestadigitation She smelled the moistness of forest air, despite being in the sewer. I wonder if the others would like me to do that for them? It'll only last an hour or so, but I'd rather smell anything than the sewer... She shrugged to herself, thinking about her home...

12 Years Ago, The High Forest
Nym was only seven years old, and small for her age. She sat near the headwaters of Heartblood River, watching the the small streams trickle together along the bottom of the deep crevasse, at least 20m below the forest floor, that the waters had carved in the Star Mounts for untold thousands of years. The trees grew thick here, and the rocks along the edge of the crevasse were covered with thick slippery moss. Nym was hidden in the dark of the trees, waiting and listening. Her hair was wild and long and she hadn't quite yet lost her baby fat. Despite this, her eyes were intelligent, peering into the darkness of the forest every so often.

Suddenly she turned, looking into the forest, a smile growing on her little face. Another being would have heard nothing, but she clearly had heard a friendly noise. Without warning, a tall blonde half-elf man, Ollin, walked out of the dark of the woods toward Nym. He smiled kindly at her, and she hopped up and danced over to him. He swung the little girl onto his shoulders, and she giggled, asking, Did you find the herbs to sell in the Hold, daddy? He responded by patting her little foot as it dangled against his chest. Ollin glided silently through the dense wild forest until they broke into an area where the trees were more sparse and large ferns grew tall. Tiny white flowers battled with soft moss beneath the fern fronds for space. Ollin set Nym down and led her to a rock outcropping barely visible over the ferns. He knelt down and caressed a tiny green bud, one of at least 50, growing on the rock. Little Princess, do you know what this is? He smiled at Nym, who closed her eyes and breathed in the smell of the forest. Moonberries? Nym said timidly. Very good. What does it do? Clears lung sicknesses and soothes troubled breathing. Exactly. And what is this? Asked Ollin, plucking a particularly delicate light green leaf. Nym cocked her head to the side, and said Elven lace? It's for soothing burns! Ollin grinned and nodded...

Current day
Nym's smile dulled slightly, and she held the light orb up a little higher. She noticed Tigrisclawu mewing at her, and picked him up with one arm to hold him across her chest. Kittywhiskers, do you ever wish you'd never left your home? Someday maybe I'll get back there... She looked over her shoulder at the dark of the sewer tunnel and felt very far from where she belonged and very useless to these strange adventurers.